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Other Capacities

Pursuant to certain statutory provisions and requirements, and under the county charter resolution, the Board of County Commissioners - in addition to its role as the legislative and policy-determinant body of the County Government - is designated to act and perform in a variety of other capacities; specifically, as the:

Board of Directors of the Wastewater Districts

Pursuant to Article I, Section 4, of Charter Resolution No. 029-92, the Board of County Commissioners serves as the governing body of any and all sewer districts created within Johnson County. The Wastewater Board of Directors does not meet outside the regular session schedule established for the Board of County Commissioners. Instead, the Board of Directors meets concurrently with the Board of County Commissioners, and agenda items are taken up and considered on a single agenda. Policy enactments are executed in the name of the Board of County Commissioners. Records of actions or decisions by the Board of Directors are filed with those of the Board of County Commissioners.

Board of Election Canvassers

Pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 25-3101, et seq., the Board of County Commissioners is, ex officio, the Board of Election Canvassers. The Board of Election Canvassers is required to review (canvass) and certify the results of the following elections conducted in the county; to-wit:

Primary and general national and state elections;

Primary and general county elections;

Primary and general township elections;

Primary and general city elections;

Primary and general school district elections;

Any ballot question submitted affecting the state, the county, or any township;

Any ballot question submitted affecting any city in the county;

Any ballot question submitted affecting a school district within the county; or,

Any election where the law provides that the Board of County Commissioners shall be the Board of Canvassers.

The Election Commissioner is the recording officer of the Board of Election Canvassers and is reponsible for maintaining permanent records of its proceedings and its orders and judgments.

Alternates are routinely selected from among staff to serve in the absence of any Member of the Board of Canvassers; Provided, the selected alternate must be a resident of Johnson County who is qualified to vote. The Board, at its discretion, may designate alternates to serve in the absence of any Member.

All canvasses are conducted at the Office of the Election Commissioner and are held on the Monday immediately following the election, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., but most typically at 9 a.m.

Board of Fence Viewers

Pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 209-201, et seq., the Board of County Commissioners serves as the Board of Fence Viewers, and performs those duties required by law. When judgments are required, a separate session is scheduled, typically following the regular, weekly meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. The proceedings of the Board of Fence Viewers are kept separate from those of the Board of County Commissioners.

Board of Public Health

Pursuant to the provision of K.S.A. 65-201, et seq., the Board of County Commissioners is charged with ensuring the general health of the public and braod welfare of the community. The Board of Health is required to appoint a person who is licensed to practice medicine and surgery, with a preference for those with training in public health, to serve in an advisory capacity as the local health officer. The local health officer is housed in the Johnson County Department of Public Health.

The Board of Public Health typically does not meet outside the regular session schedule established for the Board of County Commissioners. Instead, the Board of Public Health meets concurrently with the Board of County Commissioners, and agenda items are taken up and considered on a single agenda. Policy enactments are executed in the name of the Board of County Commissioners. Records of the Board of Public Health are filed with those of the Board of County Commissioners.

Public Building Commission

Pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 12-1757, et seq., and in accordance with Resolution No. 047-90, the Board of County Commissioners sits in a separate legal capacity as the Public Building Commission of Johnson County, Kansas, which is recognized as being a municipal corporation. The Public Building Commission has authority to do all things that are necessary or incidental to construct, acquire, or enlarge; furnish and equip; and operate and maintain buildings for governmental use.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Public Building Commission has the power and authority to:

Negotiate leases for buildings which are proposed to be acquired or constructed with the County, or with one or more additional public bodies;

Issue and refund revenue bonds, in accordance with state law;

Establish and collect rents, fees, and charges for use of public facilities it owns in amounts sufficient to pay the maintenance and operation costs, the principal and interest on revenue bonds, and to make all payments to any accounts created by any bond resolution;

Rent all or any part of its buildings or other facilities to any federal, state, or local government agency, any municipal corporation or quasi-municipal corporation, a political subdivision, or boy politic, or an agency thereof; and,

Acquire fee simple title to real property, including easements and reversionary interests in the streets, alleys, and other public spaces, and any personal property required for its purposes.

Under its bylaws, the Public Building Commission meets in regular session each year on the first Thursday in the months of February and August. Special meetings may be called in addition to these two regular meetings. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners serve, ex officio, as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Public Building Commission. At its first regular meeting each year, the Public Building Commission also elects from among its membership a Secretary, who typically serves a single-year term, and is responsible for authenticating orders made by the Public Building Commission and attesting the signature of its Chairman when required, under the corporate seal of the Public Building Commission. The Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners serves, ex officio, as recording secretary and preserves official records of its proceedings.